Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-09-02
OUTRAGE By HORSE THIEVES.
DESPERATE BATTLE WITH
sHERIFF'S POSSE.

DESPERATE BATTLE WITH A
sHERIFF's POSSE.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, August 30.-The
Tines Houston, Tex special says:
On Wednesday last four of gang
Of horse thieves, which have been
making raids near here for some
time, rode to Ihompson's Switch, a
small station seventy-seven miles
from Houston, mounted on thorough
bred horses. They ordered dinner,
after which they got drunk, fred
of their pistols and terrified the
inhabitants of the settlement, when
they rode off in a northwestern di-
rectiOn.
On Saturday John Wllliford, a
farmer and stock man of Cypress
ton, reported to Sheriff Ellis that
he had two horses stolen from him
on Thursday, and that the thieves
were still IN the vicinity of his farm.
Sheriff Ellis at once left for Nava
safe, where he organised a posse
and started after the outlaws IN
hopes Of heading them of. Yes
terGay morning two men rode into
Houston and notified Deputy Sher-
i'll Albert Erickson that the outlaws
we're camped at Eureka, FIVE miles
from this city. Deputy Erickson
mounted a horse and Immediately
started for the camp OF the outlaws.
On ARRIVING at the spot where the
outlaws we're Erlcb son discovered
the gang had gone. After riding
about for some time the deputy
found three men camped under a
tree on the prairie. He at once
telegraphed to II custom for assls-
lance, and a posse under command
of Capt. Lubbock Immediately left
for the scene of action. On arriv-
ing at Eureka the posse parted.
Deputy Sheriff Erickson and a part
OF the posse proc ,eded in the direc-
tion of Smokeyvi lie and the remain
der under Capt. Lubbock heading
for the prairie. Later the posse
soon struck the rail and in a short
while located the outlaws, who
were still camped under the lone
tree. Capt. Lub book then formed
his posse in line about 10 feet apart
j and advised all ID reserve their fire
until within thirty yards of the out
laws, began adya ncing towards the
camp. The outlaws seeing this
quickly sadGled t heir animals and
started out at a q ulck gallop. AT.
ter riding few rOinutes the leader
of the outlaws who was riding a
magnificent roam horse, threw his
Winchester on his left arm and
slightly turning in his saddle be
gan shooting his riff e, sending shot
after shot at the officers. The 9th
err outlaws, who were armed with
six.shooters, also began firing at
the posse. Capt. LubOock's men
reserved their fire as Ordered, I'M
til it was evident that the outlaws
would reach the timber. The com
mand to fire OF the robbers was
then given, and about forty or fifty
shots were exchanged, the outlaws
hating aud making a desperate
fight. During the skirmish the
horse of Capt. Lubbock was killed
one of the German citizens named
Kassner, who lived near Hooked
and accompanied the party, was
wounded in the arm by rifle ball
After the encounter on the pral
RE Capt. lubbock returned to the
city, and another party started out
in pursuit. 1t is learned that the
sergeant of the convict camp neal
CiOlls on the international road
had a pack of blood hounds OH the
trail, but withdrew them for feaI
the outlaw would kill them. From
the peculiar method the outlaws
had of lyi ng low on their horses
and their quick wheeling in run.
ming and firing, it is thought that
they were a part of old Sam BASES
gang wb o defed the state authori-
ties of Texas a few years ago.
From the large rolls of money
displayed by the outlaws on their
visit and drunken spree at ThOmp-
sons Switch tits confidently thought
that they are the same gang who
robbed the Southern Pacific train
at Plato MIA In June. A dispatch
was received from Sheriff Ellis at
Cypress last night late stating that
he was on hot trail and expected
to bag his game before daylight
The robbers are plucky, and a des
perate and bloody battle is antlcl
pated should they be discovered.